News From Grade 4
December 8th
This issue of the newsletter is all about our latest endeavor--DIY.org
DIY Challenges
According to DIY, “Challenges are exercises designed to help members gain new skill experience or improve their existing expertise. Challenges are designed by by DIY Skillmakers, who are staff members working at our HQ in San Francisco. They carefully plan DIY Challenges primarily by interviewing experts to understand the best approach to try any skill, and they scour the Web for the best how-to videos to explain how to get started.” Students choose three (or more) challenges listed under a skill. Students can look at other members' submissions and staff-curated videos to get ideas on completing the challenges. A photo or video is then created to show the completion of the challenge.
Classroom Objectives
- read nonfiction text and follow directions
- use goal-setting and time-management strategies
- create multimedia projects
- acknowledge and build upon personal strengths (also a district objective)
- develop problem-solving strategies, perseverance, and appropriate risk-taking behaviors
- recognize personal accomplishments
- practice applying digital citizenship concepts in a safe environment
- communicate learnings to others and share personal interests
- ask and respond to questions
- be self-directed in learning
DIY Safety and Privacy
Students do not use their real names anywhere on the site. They choose a nickname or username that is attached to any projects they upload. When students submit a project to the site, I receive an email. This allows me to check that there is nothing that identifies an individual student by name or school; if there is, then I remove it from the student's feed. DIY staff, known as moderators, check and post the submissions. I then receive an email from them, notifying me that a project has been posted.
Parent Connection
DIY Badges/Patches
DIY New Interests
Miss Gaab's Contact Information
Email: gaabj@district279.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/apps.district279.org/gaab/home
Phone: 763-213-3860